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Q: What do Chinese do on Christmas?
Somebody asked me that while in Canada and I said they do sort of celebrate it...
I told them the masses pretty much treat it like Valentine's day mixed with shopping and KTV.
Usually young couples go to a restaurant to eat, then the guy goes shopping with the girl and buys her something. They he goes off with his buddies to KTV for booze and girls. Going to KTV is very expensive on this date and you usually have to book it in advance.
Did I miss anything? Is it different where you live in China now?
Christmas is a very significant traditional religious event in China - going back over 5000 years to when the Lord baby Mao was born of a virgin motherland.
The only true and proper way to celebrate this event is by spreading one's Mao's (good luck) to those who truly matter to you - the shops where you buy (like Lord_H mentioned above), Apples. In return, these apple providers grant you the blessing of 'Face' (and, often, sex - if you're male), or endless beauty (if you're female... and take lots of selfies).
The reindeer you will often see outside these apple providers is to remind us of the glories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (and how it's now all fake and plastic).
The slay is to tell us what 5000 years of history does to any who oppose them... sleigh them! (oh - was that a typo??)
And the guy in Red with the beard? Well, isn't that obvious? It's Mao bringing forth his message! (dribbling down his chin into a mass off....)
In Tianjin they all buy an apple and stand outside the old French cathedral at night on Christmas eve. It is weird as fook and they get in the way of people who are wanting to go to the midnight mass there.
Yeah, I have conversational English classes, and I was curious about this myself, so I asked a few of my students. Pretty much the same thing as you said. They treat it like all their other holidays. Out to dinner and KTV. Traditional Chinese holiday for you. Apparently the only one who gets a gift is the girlfriend. Parents buying stuff for their kids isn't really a thing.
Go to work probably. It's not a holiday here. Maybe aknowledge it as a point of conversation at dinner with their family.
If they like western food maybe go out to eat.
Exchange a couple gifts if they feel like it.
Unless they are devout Christian and then they probably celebrate it in a way that christians in the west would recognize.
I was back home last week, and was asked the same thing!
I told them in China, Christmas is a party holiday, and their New Years is a family holiday.
I spent a lot of time in a Hostel my first few months here. Most of the year they played soft, out of place, Christmas Carols in the bar. On Christmas? Loud, in your face, Dubstep.
Robk, I think you got it about right. I would also mention that some do pray to a saxophone playing santa.
Lord_hanson:
In the subway in my city there is an advertisement that is a pirate Santa with a candy cane hook. It actually looks pretty cool.
Nothing for Christmas. There's no Christmas in China. Sure, some people might've heard of it, but only in the sense that it's a time for more shopping. The shops are all over it though...in the true fashion of the Mighty Modern West. Spend money, spend money, spend money. And as for the Babe in the manger........ Shenma?
Christmas is a very significant traditional religious event in China - going back over 5000 years to when the Lord baby Mao was born of a virgin motherland.
The only true and proper way to celebrate this event is by spreading one's Mao's (good luck) to those who truly matter to you - the shops where you buy (like Lord_H mentioned above), Apples. In return, these apple providers grant you the blessing of 'Face' (and, often, sex - if you're male), or endless beauty (if you're female... and take lots of selfies).
The reindeer you will often see outside these apple providers is to remind us of the glories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (and how it's now all fake and plastic).
The slay is to tell us what 5000 years of history does to any who oppose them... sleigh them! (oh - was that a typo??)
And the guy in Red with the beard? Well, isn't that obvious? It's Mao bringing forth his message! (dribbling down his chin into a mass off....)
Shopping and give teachers way too many apples.
Merry Christmas everyone. Hope you have a joyous holiday.
